The Assumption: Mary’s Crossing Over

In honor of the Assumption, here are excerpts about this mystery from my book The Catholic Companion of Mary.

“Regardless of how long Mary lived after Jesus’ death, surely she missed her son and husband and yearned to be reunited with them. Did Mary die? Most theologians think that Mary underwent death—just as her son did and as we all will do. The Church has no formal teaching about Mary’s death. What it does believe is that when Mary’s life on earth was ended, she was immediately taken body and soul into heaven. In this way, God preserved her body from corruption—that body which had served his Son so well.

“The Assumption was declared a doctrine of faith in 1950, although the church has believed it since the early centuries. One significance of the timing of this declaration is that it came right after World War II and the Holocaust, when the value of the human body was held in such low esteem. By insisting that Mary’s body had been assumed into heaven, the Church was saying that the human body was sacred and important to God.

“Remains of several saints were discovered to be incorrupt, but these bodies are still on earth. There are no mortal remains of Mary, and the Church does not expect to find any. Unlike the rest of us, Mary didn’t have to wait until the end of the world for her body to be glorified and reunited with her soul. Right now she is already with her son in body and soul in heaven, worshipping God and enjoying eternal bliss. In this state, Mary is a sign and a promise of what awaits us. How Mary is now, God intends everyone to be someday. This truth gives us hope and consolation as we struggle with the trials, crises, sickness and death of physical life on earth.

“In this one woman, who is the mother of us all, the ultimate destiny of the human race has already been realized. A helpful analogy is that we himans are like a fleet of ships in a storm at sea, and Mary is the first ship to reach the safe harbor. Mary is the first flowering of the Church. In the words of theologian Karl Rahner, ‘God’s grace is doing is us what he did in her.’

“St. John of Damascus said that as Mary enters heaven, the Temple of God, ‘David, her ancestor and God’s relative, dances for joy (2 Samuel 7:14); the angels dance in unison, the archangels applaud, and the powers of the heavens sing her glory.’ ”

How do you picture Mary in heaven?

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This was a wonderful book. I was given this book with your signature and a blessing. Sister Renetta gave it to me. And I treasure it. You had come to Our Lady of Lourdes Church to speak, and you truly inspired us about Mary. From cover to cover the book was read and very hard to put down. I must read it once again, it has been awhile. Mary is in heaven setting about doing the motherly things God has given her to do, particularly praying for us as she does best. She has beautiful eyes and long brown hair. And welcoming arms to greet us once we have seen Jesus. She is unblemished. And I am proud to have her name as my middle name. God Bless Siochan Agus Maitheas. Kathy OFS

I'm a Sister of Notre Dame, of Chardon, Ohio, the author of seventy-plus books on religious education and spirituality, including a novel, The Fisherman's Wife: The Gospel According to St. Peter's Spouse. I enjoy giving talks and am a pastoral associate at St. Dominic Church.

About Sister Kathleen Glavich, SND

Jesus ordered us to make disciples of all nations and teach them. Mary Kathleen, a Sister of Notre Dame from Chardon, Ohio, responds to this call through writing, speaking, giving retreats, and teaching. Her motto, adopted from Eddie Doherty’s gravesite, is “All my words for the Word.”

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A Heavenly Book

Do you believe in angels? Most people do. The Catholic Companion to Angels offers heavenly facts about these majestic creatures, confirming that you can turn to them for help. Uniquely, The Angels comes with three covers (statue, stained-glass, or painting). Choose the one you like best. Available from ACTA Publications and me. ($10.00)

A Bit of Humor

A Living Fossil . . .
A four-year-old asked her teacher, "Are you older than my father?"
"Yes," Sister Myra said.
"Are you older than my grandfather?"
"Yes," Sister said, who knew her grandfather.
"Then," concluded the girl, "you must be older than the dinosaurs."

My First Novel!

The Fisherman's Wife is the story of St. Peter's spouse, the long-suffering but delightful woman who puts up with Peter and his obsession with the itinerant preacher named Jesus. Through her we meet Peter, Jesus, and other biblical characters. In Capernaum she witnesses Jesus' healings and hears his words.The book is based on the Gospels, legends, and what is known about first-century Jewish women. The rest is sheer imagination.
Order directly from me FOR AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY at kglavich@ndec.org.

Of Interest

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Totally Catholic! A Catechism for Kids and Their Parents and Teachers

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About the Sisters of Notre Dame, Chardon, Ohio

The Sisters of Notre Dame of Chardon, Ohio, belong to an international congregation of more than two thousand apostolic women religious. We are one in mind and one in heart for the transformation of the world in Christ.